Downhole oil/gas separator and method of separating oil and gas downhole
US4531584A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/38
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
For low pressure gaseous wells, an oil/gas separator is mounted at the end of a production string to provide a continuous upwardly spiralling separating velocity to the oil/gas entering the tool in order to separate outwardly at least sufficient gas to reduce gas lock in the sucker rod pump mounted in the production string. The oil/gas separator of this invention includes a separation chamber having a continuously upwardly spiralling ramp and an internal collection tube to collect the separated gas and move the gas upwardly and out of the tool and into the annulus of the oil well. The method of this invention is practiced by directing an oil/gas mixture from a producing zone in a helical direction to impart centrifugal separating velocity at varying levels to the mixture to cause gas to separate from the mixture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.